Simultaneous tuning of multiple satellite frequencies

ABSTRACT

A system and method for receiving services is presented. The system comprises a first splitter having an input, a first output and a slaved output receiving a first signal at the input having a single polarization including a first service and a slaved service, wherein the first signal is directed to the first output and the slaved output and selected by a first control signal applied at the input, a first tuner receiving the first output and tuning the first service and a slaved tuner receiving the slaved output and tuning the slaved service.. The method comprises generating a first control signal to select a first signal, receiving a first signal including a first service and a slaved service, wherein the first service and the slaved service are at the same polarization, splitting the first signal with a first splitter to a first output and a first slaved output, tuning the first service from the first output with a first tuner and tuning the slaved service from the slaved output with a slaved tuner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to systems for transmittingservices, and in particular, to systems for broadcasting multipleservices to subscribers via satellite.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems broadcast signalsincluding a range of different channels over a wide coverage region. Thesignals are then received by users with an antenna having a low noiseblock converter (LNB) and communicated to an integrated receiver/decoder(IRD) which receives and decodes the channels based upon user selectionsor other criteria. In such conventional systems the broadcaster sendsmost channels or services on one frequency and tunes each of theseservices independently. Additionally, services which must becontinuously monitored and/or acquired, are typically sent on allfrequencies and received in conjunction with other services.

To expand such systems to provide additional services that must becontinuously monitored and/or acquired, while maintaining compatibilitywith legacy equipment, would normally require simply appending the newservices on all frequencies as the existing services. However, such asystem and method quickly and inefficiently consumes the available datarate of the frequencies.

There is a need in the art for systems and methods which use availablefrequencies more efficiently to deliver services to users. There isfurther a need for systems and methods which do not require additionalcabling by the user for expanding services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention uses only one frequency per polarization on whichto transmit additional services where previous services are beingcarried, rather than transmitting on all frequencies (e.g. sixty-fourDIRECTV frequencies) as with a conventional DBS system. For example, iftwo polarizations are being used on two orbit locations, the presentinvention uses only four frequencies. This provides as much as 64/4 or1600% of the data rate to send the data effectively to the IRD whileallowing continuous data acquisition. In addition, the invention enablesmore advanced services which may require the use of multiple frequenciesand the addition of new tuners, but without additional cabling.

A typical system of the present invention comprises a first splitterhaving an input, a first output and a slaved output receiving a firstsignal at the input having a single polarization including a firstservice and a slaved service, wherein the first signal is directed tothe first output and the slaved output and selected by a first controlsignal applied at the input, a first tuner receiving the first outputand tuning the first service and a slaved tuner receiving the slavedoutput and tuning the slaved service. A typical method of the presentinvention comprises generating a first control signal to select a firstsignal, receiving a first signal including a first service and a slavedservice, wherein the first service and the slaved service are at thesame polarization, splitting the first signal with a first splitter to afirst output and a first slaved output, tuning the first service fromthe first output with a first tuner and tuning the slaved service fromthe slaved output with a slaved tuner.

The invention allows a broadcaster to send an ‘always on’ service to thereceiver without having to carry that service on every system frequencyor an additional cable from the LNB. This is done in two steps. Thebroadcaster transmits the service on at least one frequency of bothpolarizations of every satellite and the IRD has one tuner and transportdemodulation hardware available to tune and digitally process theappropriate frequency of the service. Alternatively, the broadcaster mayelect to broadcast the multiple services on the same polarization, butat different frequencies. This allows access to multiple services or aservice requiring multiple frequencies, with multiple tuners and only asingle cable to support all services.

With this invention, the LNB output is split internally to the IRD and asecond dedicated tuner is used to acquire the supplementary services inaddition to other user demanded services acquired by a first tuner,regardless of the first tuner's frequency selection and the LNB'spolarization output.

The present invention has direct applicability to adding services,applications and user-interactive products receiving programming fromsatellite service providers, such as DIRECTV, without increasing thecables running form the dish to the receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers representcorresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a multiple satellitevideo distribution system according to a typical embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a multi-switch in thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate some typical receiver embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate logic flow for the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a secondary service lookup table with rateinformation; and

FIGS. 6A-6B satellite spectrum and capacity for typical embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings which form a part hereof, and which show, by way ofillustration, several embodiments of the present invention. It isunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

System Overview

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a multiple satellitevideo distribution DBS system according to a typical embodiment of thepresent invention. The system includes multiple satellites 100A-100C,uplink antenna 102, and transmit station 104. In a typical embodiment,the three satellites 100A-100C are in three different orbital slotslocated at 101 West Longitude (WL) 100A, 119 WL 100B, and 110 WL 100C,wherein the video programming signals 106A-106C are transmitted fromtransponders 1-32 on 101 WL 100A, transponders 22-32 on 119 WL 100B, andtransponders 28, 30 and 32 on 110 WL 100C. The radio frequency (RF)signals 106A-106C (which may each include different polarizations) arereceived at one or more outdoor units (ODUs), which comprise userreceiving station downlink antennas 108. Each downlink antenna 108 usesone or more LNBs 112A-112C (typically one for each satellite) and iscoupled to one or more integrated receiver-decoders (IRDs) 110 for thereception and decoding of video programming signals 106A-106C. Amulti-switch 114 may be used to select which LNB signal is directed tothe IRD 110. Such an arrangement typically requires only a single cableto run from the multi-switch 114 to the IRD 110. IRDs use one cable persatellite tuner.

In a typical DBS system, the orbital locations of the satellites100A-100C are chosen so that the signals 106A-106C, respectivelyreceived from each satellite 100A-100C, can be distinguished by theantenna 108, but close enough so that all signals 106A-106C can bereceived without physically slewing the axis of the antenna 108. Whenthe user selects program material broadcast by the satellites 100A-100C,the IRD 110 electrically switches LNBs 112 to receive the respectivebroadcast signals 106A-106C from the satellites 100A-100C transmittingthe broadcast signals 106A-106C and configures the selected LNB for theproper polarization of the broadcast signals. This electrical switchingmay occur using a multiplexing switch (also known as a multi-switch).

Cables 115 connect the optional multiswitch to the LNBs 112A-112C. Whenthe multiswitch is present, there is typically one cable 115 perpolarization per satellite. Cables 116 connect the IRD to the optionalmultiswitch. There is one cable 116 per IRD satellite tuner. When nomultiswitch is employed, cable 115 is omitted and cables 116 wouldconnect directly to the LNBs 112A-112C.

FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of a combiner 202 and multi-switch 114arrangement. The combiner 202 and multi-switch 114 arrangement isdescribed in detail in co-pending and commonly-assigned application Ser.No. 09/675,526, filed Sep. 29, 2000, by Dipak M. Shah, and entitled“AGGREGATED DISTRIBUTION OF MULTIPLE SATELLITE TRANSPONDER SIGNALS FROMA SATELLITE DISH ANTENNA,” attorneys' docket number PD-990266, and Ser.No. 09/675,526, filed on Sep. 29, 2000, by Kesse C. Ho, and entitled“LOW NOISE BLOCK DOWN CONVERTER ADAPTER WITH BUILT-IN MULTI-SWITCH FOR ASATELLITE DISH ANTENNA,” attorneys' docket number PD-200006, whichapplications are incorporated by reference herein. In the preferredembodiment, the combiner 202 and multi-switch 114 are housed within theAdapter 130, although other embodiments could mount these components inany location.

The 12.2-12.7 GHz signals 106A-106C received from the satellites100A-100C pass through a feed horns of the LNBs 112A-112C and are downconverted by a local oscillator and multiplier in the LNBs 112A-112C tothe 950-1450 MHz signals required by a tuner/demodulator of the IRDs110. Left and right polarized signals and are output from the LNBs112A-112C.

The local oscillator and multiplier in the LNB 112C for 110 WL 100C areused to relocate the channels for 110 WL 100C for the purposes of thepresent invention. Specifically, the local oscillator and multiplier inthe LNB 112C for 110 WL 100C relocates the three channels received from110 WL 100C into unused positions within the assigned 950-1450 MHzspectrum of 119 WL 100B (in one example, channels 28, 30, and 32 arerelocated to channels 8, 10, and 12). The combiner 202 masks the unused119 WL 100B channels and combines the relocated 110 WL 100C channelswith the assigned 950-1450 MHz spectrum of 119 WL 100B. Specifically,the combiner 202 sums the relocated channels from 110 WL 100C with thechannels received from 119 WL 100B (in one example, relocated channels8, 10, and 12 from 110 WL 100C are summed with channels 22-32 from 119WL 100B) within the assigned 950-1450 MHz spectrum.

Those skilled in the art will note that the channel assignments providedabove are merely illustrative, and that any desired channel arrangementcould be used by proper selection of the local oscillator frequency.Moreover, those skilled in the art will recognize that channels frommore than two signal polarizations could be relocated and aggregatedusing the present invention, with the use of additional or differentcombiners, oscillators, and multipliers.

This summed output from the combiner 202 is then provided to a singleinput of the multi-switch 114. The multi-switch 114 generally comprisesa cross-bar switch, wherein any of the outputs can be connected to anyof the inputs. The selection of which input to connect to a desiredoutput via the multi-switch 140 is controlled by a signal received onthe coaxial cable from the IRD 110, in a manner well known in the art(e.g., an 18V, 13V, 18V/22 kHz, or 13V/22 kHz signal from the IRD 110selects one of the four inputs to the multi-switch 114).

Thus, the combiner 202 aggregates the signals 106B and 106C receivedfrom satellites 100B and 100C before the multi-switch 114 in order todecrease the number of inputs needed on the multi-switch 114.Consequently, a four-input multi-switch 114 can be used to select amongfive different signals output from three different LNBs 112 based onthree different sets of signals 106A-106C received from transponders onthree different satellites 100A-100C. Moreover, fewer sets of cables 116are required and the polarization switching requirements for the LNBs112, multi-switch 114, and IRDs 110 are simplified, thereby resulting insignificant savings in component and installation costs.

Although the invention is described herein with respect to threesatellites, those skilled in the art will understand that any number ofsatellites may be used and further, that any suitable platform may beused, including ground-based or high-altitude platforms. The onlyrequirement is that the system must deliver multiple signals or multiplepolarizations to the antenna 108.

Receiver Embodiments

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate some typical receiver embodiments of the presentinvention. FIG. 3A depicts a receiver 300 wherein the power insertionand tone controls are emitted by a first tuner 304, which includes atransport demodulator. The splitter 302 passes the power insertion andtone controls through to control a multiswitch, which operates aspreviously described. FIG. 3B depicts a receiver 308 wherein the powerinsertion and tone controls are emitted by the splitter 310. In eitherembodiment, the first tuner 304, 314 is used to tune a first service anda slaved tuner 306, 312, which also includes a transport demodulator,simultaneously tunes a slaved service. The first tuner 304, 314 acquiresa first frequency and polarization of a selected signal from one of thesatellites 100A-100C for a first service, such as a channel including avideo and audio portion. The polarization of the first servicedetermines the polarization output by the LNB. A service selector 316,which includes a polarization controller, controls the splitter 302 (orfirst tuner 314) to issue either 13V or 18V so that the properpolarization is obtained for the first service. The slaved tuner 306,312 acquires the slaved frequency for a second service based upon theselected polarization and signal. In this manner the slaved tuner isslaved off the selection of the first tuner. Regardless of the firstfrequency's polarization, in that same polarization the same frequencyor a second frequency will exist that provides the slaved service. Notethat other equivalent methods of power insertion and tone control willbe apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention should not belimited to the examples provided. The invention can also be expanded toadditional tuners in a similar fashion without requiring additionalcables.

FIG. 3C depicts an example receiver 318 using two primary and one slavedtuner. Such an arrangement may be employed for example in an applicationwhere a user views a program on one of the primary receivers whilerecording a program on the other primary receiver. In a typicalembodiment, there are two splitters 320, 322 inside the IRD 324 for eachRF input which separately receive signals, either directly from an LNBor optionally through a multiswitch. Which signal is received by eachsplitter 320, 322 depends separately upon the power and tone controlsapplied as previously discussed by a service selector 326. Although FIG.3C depicts the power and tone controls applied through the splitters320, 322, the controls may also be applied via the first and secondtuners 330, 334, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3A. The slaved tuner334 is then able to tune the slaved frequency which carries the slavedservices and demodulate it to utilize the slaved service's datacontents. A switch 328 may be used to alternately slave the slavedservice off the first tuner's service or the second tuner's service(based on speed or other considerations).

It is important to understand that each of the tuners (first, second andslaved) may receive content of the same or different classes. Forexample, the slaved tuner may receive a supplementary data service (suchas a stock ticker), a music service, or a full video service. Similarly,the first and second receivers each may receive any type of service. Theslaved tuner is only distinguished the fact that its accessible servicesare determined by the primary tuner to which it is currently slaved. Thedetails of systems and methods for service selection are describedhereafter.

Service Selection

In the case of a service which spans multiple frequencies on a singlepolarization, the initial polarization selection of the first tuner 304,314, 330 determines access to the complete service. The presentinvention allows a satellite receiver 110 to tune and acquire dataservices from two or more frequencies simultaneously using only onecable from the multi-switch 114 and only one selected LNB 112down-converter from the satellite dish 108.

The broadcast plan places the slaved service onto at least one frequencyof each satellite's polarizations, for example on a frequency of boththe RHCP and the LHCP per satellite. In so doing, the broadcasterguarantees that regardless of which satellite's signal 106 and whichpolarization is being tuned by the first tuner 304, 314, 330 to accessthe first service, that the selected LNB's 112 RF to the IRD 110 willcarry at least one frequency that contains the data packets of theslaved service.

The first service changes frequencies per a user selection, andtypically is used to acquire the video and audio programming for a userselected channel. Based on the frequency of the first service, the LNBis controlled to output the RF for a particular polarization, typicallyfor a DBS service that would be either RHCP or LHCP.

Based on the transmitting satellite of the first service, the optionalmulti-switch selects the proper LNB to connect the IRD to a specificsatellite's LNB. There may be one, two or more LNBs connected to amulti-switch.

The RF input to the IRD 110 that comes from the LNBs 112A-112C throughthe optional multi-switch 114 is then taken and split to a slaved tuneras shown in FIGS. 3A-3C and previously described. The slaved tuner 306,310, 332 tunes a frequency for that given polarization that contains thefirst frequency. Control of the input to the IRD through themulti-switch 310 is directed through a combination of tone and powerlevels or by modulated tones and power levels (e.g. digital satelliteequipment control (DiSEqC)) as previously described.

In one embodiment the SCID for the slaved service may be selected fromthe first or second frequency and utilized in a manner consistent andappropriate for that slaved service. Some example second services areconditional access card management, real-time stock tickers, cachingdata to the IRD for later use (such as for advertisements), softwaredownloads/upgrades, fulfilling the user's earlier requests for data(such as HTML web pages).

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate logic flow for the present invention. Logicfunctions may be performed by the service selector 316 or 326. FIG. 4Adescribes the logic flow for typical embodiments of the presentinvention employing a single primary and slaved tuner, such as shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B. The process begins by determining whether the user hasselected a first service 402. If a first service is selected, thesatellite, frequency and service channel identification (SCID) of thefirst service are determined 404. Then the polarization of the firstservice is determined 406 and the appropriate power level and tone forthe first selected first service's polarization and satellite is sent408 (either through the first tuner 304 or the splitter 310, asappropriate). Next, a table lookup is performed for the desired slavedservice(s)' frequency and SCID(s), given the first service's satelliteand polarization 410. Finally, the slaved tuner 306, 312 is controlledfor slaved service acquisition using the determined frequency and SCID412. If a first service is not selected by the user, a table search isconducted for the fastest frequency that provides the desired slavedservice to obtain the satellite, polarization and SCID 414. Then, theappropriate power level and tone are sent for the desired slavedservice(s)' polarization and satellite 416. At this point the slavedtuner 306, 312 is controlled for slaved service acquisition using thedetermined frequency and SCID 412.

FIG. 4B describes the logic flow for typical embodiments of the presentinvention employing two primary tuners 330, 334 and a slaved tuner 332,such as shown in FIG. 3C. The process begins with determining whetherthe user has selected a first service 434. If so, the satellitefrequency and SCID of the first service are determined 436 and then thepolarization of the first frequency is determined 436. Next, appropriatepower level and tone for the first service's polarization and satelliteis sent on a first RF port . From here the process determines whetherthe user has selected a second service 420.

If the user has not initially selected a first service at the prior step434 or not selected a second service at step 420, a table search isperformed to determine the fastest data rate frequency available for thedesired slaved services and the satellite, polarization and SCID for thedesired slaved service are determined 442. At this point, theappropriate power and tone for the desired slave service's polarizationand satellite is sent on a second RF port 444. Next, the slaved tuner iscontrolled to the second RF port 446. Finally, the slaved tuner'sfrequency and SCID are controlled for slaved service acquisition 432.

However, if the user has selected a second service in the prior step420, the process instead determines the satellite, frequency and SCID ofthe selected second service 422 and the polarization of the secondservice frequency is determined 424. Next, the appropriate power leveland tone for the second service's polarization and satellite is sent onthe second RF port 426. Following this, data rates of the desired slaveservices are compared among the first and second services' polarizations428. The slave tuner is then controlled to switch to the fastest port430. As before, the slaved tuner's frequency and SCID are thencontrolled for slaved service acquisition 432.

FIG. 5 illustrates a secondary service lookup table with rateinformation. Based on the satellite and polarization desired by thefirst tuner 304, 314, 330, such a table provides the IRD 110 a lookup toacquire the desired slaved services using the slaved tuner. If thereceiver uses two satellite inputs (e.g. as in FIG. 3C), rateinformation is used to select the faster of available slaved servicesignals to the slaved tuner.

A further aspect of the present invention involves the manner in whichservices may be selected in the absence of specific direction by theuser. The IRD may also utilize an algorithm or intelligent agent whichexamines all services available to the slaved tuner from either thefirst or second tuner (if available) and selects and processes theservices it deems preferred. Of course, such an algorithm may also beused for the primary tuners if the user has not selected a service forthem. This selection may be based on preset criteria determined by thebroadcaster for all IRDs or may be customized by parameters associatedwith the user (e.g., subscription package), preferences set by the user,user profile created by the IRD to characterize the preferences of theuser, or any combination of the above.

To elaborate, such an algorithm to determine the selected service may beeither incorporated into the IRD or used by the broadcaster (at thetransmission station 104, for example) with the result communicated tothe IRD. Many possible factors may be used to determine the selectedservice. The functional capabilities of the IRD are one such factor. Forexample, if a surround sound transmission is available but the IRD isincapable of receiving such a transmission, that service will not beselected. Another factor may be user preferences which are input intothe IRD or communicated to the broadcaster. If the user has indicatedthat she is a fan of country music, the selected service may be acountry music service, for example. The user preferences may also bedetermined by monitoring the selection habits of the user. Preferencesdetermined through monitoring may be communicated to the broadcaster orperformed by an automated process entirely within the IRD to maintainuser privacy. Finally, the user's account information may also be usedto select the service.

FIGS. 6A-6B satellite spectrum and capacity for typical embodiments.Because the user is still free to select the first service randomly, theacquisition of the slaved service's data is non-interfering to theuser's demands. The data is downloaded transparently. The slaved tunerof the IRD is provided the slaved service's frequency from a table. FIG.6A is a table showing the transponder location of slaved services for aslaved tuner. Optimally, all slaved services would co-exist on onefrequency per polarization. This allows parallel access to all or anyslaved service without restriction. If restrictions are permissible, twoor more frequencies may carry multiple slaved services per polarization.FIG. 6B is a table showing the transponder locations of slaved serviceswhere three alternative slaved services are available. In this case, theslaved services, A, B and C, are mutually exclusive. The serviceinformation may be provided to the IRD and used through a number ofpossible mechanisms. Some illustrative examples follow.

For each satellite and polarization the table may list one or morefrequencies for the carrier signals for the slaved services. The IRDthen looks up the satellite and polarization of the currently tunedfirst service and determines the frequency for the slaved service. TheIRD stores this table and responds to any changes within it. Inaddition, a default table may be stored in a memory, such as a flashmemory from the factory manufacturing process.

Alternately, the table may be additional information added andassociated with the channel information that is used to describe theservices of every first service or channel. This additional informationdescribes the frequencies for the carrier signals for the slaved dataservices. This table may also be updateable as in the previous example.

Another scheme may provide the table as information to the user, such asin the form of a mailer, and require that the user input the appropriateinformation in a user interface, part of the IRD program guide or menusystem.

A dial up service may also be used to feed the information to the IRE.The IRD could be automated to call the dial-up server periodically orsent a message from the broadcast instructing it to call up to load anew table.

Using the table information, the second tuner is then tuned to thatfrequency. If no service is found, the next appropriate frequency istried, and so on, until the slaved service is found or all frequenciesare exhausted.

The user may sign up for slaved services, such as stock tickers, usingIRD supplied forms and user interfaces. The broadcaster may alsodownload a table of contents of the available slaved services, which theuser then interacts with through a user interface to select desiredslaved services.

The broadcaster may also instruct the IRD to monitor other slavedservices, such as software downloads and advertisement caching. Inaddition, some user selected slaved services might cause other slavedservices to become monitored that the user did not directly select.

This concludes the description including the preferred embodiments ofthe present invention. The foregoing description of the preferredembodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by thisdetailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. Theabove specification, examples and data provide a complete description ofthe manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since manyembodiments of the invention can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claimshereinafter appended.

1.-27. (canceled)
 28. A method of receiving a slaved service,comprising: generating a first control signal to select a first signal;receiving the first signal including a first service and the slavedservice, wherein the first service and the slaved service are at thesame polarization; splitting the first signal with a first splitter to afirst output and a first slaved output; tuning the first service fromthe first output with a first tuner; tuning the slaved service from theslaved output with a slaved tuner; applying the first control signal atthe input via the first tuner and the first splitter.
 29. The method ofclaim 28, further comprising directing the tuning of the first tuner,the slaved tuner and generating first control signal.
 30. The method ofclaim 28, further comprising selecting the slaved service from aplurality of slaved services.
 31. The method of claim 28, furthercomprising: generating a second control signal to select a secondsignal; receiving the second signal including a second service and theslaved service; splitting the second signal with a second splitter to asecond output and a second slaved output; selecting an input to theslaved tuner between the first slaved output and the second slavedoutput; and tuning the selected input to the slaved tuner to receive theslaved service.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising directingtuning of the first tuner, and the slaved tuner, producing the first andsecond control signals, and selecting the input to the slaved tuner. 33.The method of claim 32, wherein directing includes applying the firstcontrol signal to the first splitter and the second control signal tothe second splitter.
 34. The method of claim 32, wherein directingincludes applying the first control signal through the first tunerthrough the first splitter and applying the second control signalthrough the second tuner through the second splitter.
 35. The method ofclaim 28, wherein the method is integral to an integratedreceiver/decoder (IRD).
 36. The method of claim 28, further comprisingusing a table providing the slaved frequency of the slaved service basedupon the single signal and polarization.
 37. The method of claim 36,wherein the table is stored in a memory.
 38. The method of claim 37,wherein the memory is updated.
 39. The method of claim 37, wherein thememory is a flash memory including a default table.
 40. The method ofclaim 36, further comprising channel information for the first serviceand wherein the table is additional information associated with thechannel information.
 41. The method of claim 36, wherein the table isprovided as information to a user and the user inputs information. 42.The method of claim 36, wherein the table is provided from a dial-upservice.
 43. The method of claim 42, further comprising periodicallycalling the dial-up service.
 44. The method of claim 42, wherein thesignal prompts calling the dial up server.
 45. The method of claim 28,wherein at least one tuned service is selected using an algorithm. 46.The method of claim 45, wherein the algorithm is performed within thereceiver system.
 47. The method of claim 45, wherein the algorithm isperformed outside the receiver system and the selected service iscommunicated to the receiver system.
 48. The method of claim 45, whereinthe algorithm accounts for the capabilities of the receiver system todetermine the selected service.
 49. The method of claim 45, wherein thealgorithm employs user preferences to determine the selected service.50. The method of claim 49, wherein the user preferences are determinedby the receiver system through monitoring user habits.
 51. The method ofclaim 49, wherein the user preferences are determined with user accountinformation.
 52. The method of claim 49, wherein the user preferencesare preselected by the user.
 53. A system for transmitting a slavedservice, comprising: at least one transmit station having an uplinkantenna transmitting a first signal including a first service and aslaved service at the same polarization; and at least one satellitereceiving and retransmitting the first signal to a downlink antenna;wherein the first signal is communicated to a first splitter having afirst input, a first output communicated to a first tuner for tuning thefirst service, and a first slaved output communicated to a slaved tunerfor tuning the slaved service and the first signal is selected by afirst control signal applied at the first input via the first tuner andthe first splitter.
 54. The system of claim 53, wherein the at least onetransmit station transmits a second signal including a second serviceand the slaved service at the same polarization, and the at least onesatellite receives and retransmits the second signal to the downlinkantenna and the second signal is communicated to a second splitter; thesecond splitter having a second input, a second output communicated to afirst tuner for tuning the second service and a second slaved outputcommunicated to the slaved tuner for tuning the slaved service; and thesecond signal is selected by a second control signal applied at thesecond input and output to the slaved tuner is selected between thefirst and second slaved outputs.
 55. The system of claim 53, wherein atleast one tuned service is selected using an algorithm.
 56. The systemof claim 55, wherein the algorithm is performed within the receiversystem.
 57. The system of claim 55, wherein the algorithm is performedoutside the receiver system and the selected service is communicated tothe receiver system.
 58. The system of claim 55, wherein the algorithmaccounts for the capabilities of the receiver system to determine theselected service.
 59. The system of claim 55, wherein the algorithmemploys user preferences to determine the selected service.
 60. Thesystem of claim 59, wherein the user preferences are determined by thereceiver system through monitoring user habits.
 61. The system of claim59, wherein the user preferences are determined with user accountinformation.
 62. The system of claim 59, wherein the user preferencesare preselected by the user.
 63. A method of transmitting a slavedservice, comprising: transmitting a first signal including a firstservice and the slaved service at the same polarization; and receivingand retransmitting the first signal to a downlink antenna; wherein thefirst signal is communicated to a first splitter having a first input, afirst output communicated to a first tuner for tuning the first serviceand a first slaved output, the first slaved output communicated to aslaved tuner for tuning the slaved service, and the first signalselected by a first control signal applied at the first input via thefirst tuner and the first splitter.
 64. The method of claim 63, whereinthe at least one transmit station transmits a second signal including asecond service and the slaved service at the same polarization; the atleast one satellite receives and retransmits the second signal to thedownlink antenna and the second signal is communicated to a secondsplitter, the second splitter having a second input, a second outputcommunicated to a first tuner for tuning the second service and a secondslaved output to the slaved tuner for tuning the slaved service; and thesecond signal is selected by a second control signal applied at thesecond input and output to the slaved tuner is selected between thefirst and second slaved outputs for providing the slaved service. 65.The method of claim 63, wherein at least one tuned service is selectedusing an algorithm.
 66. The method of claim 65, wherein the algorithm isperformed within the receiver system.
 67. The method of claim 65,wherein the algorithm is performed outside the receiver system and theselected service is communicated to the receiver system.
 68. The methodof claim 65, wherein the algorithm accounts for the capabilities of thereceiver system to determine the selected service.
 69. The method ofclaim 65, wherein the algorithm employs user preferences to determinethe selected service.
 70. The method of claim 69, wherein the userpreferences are determined by the receiver system through monitoringuser habits.
 71. The method of claim 69, wherein the user preferencesare determined with user account information.
 72. The method of claim69, wherein the user preferences are preselected by the user. 73.(canceled)
 74. (canceled)
 75. (canceled)
 76. (canceled)
 77. (canceled)78. (canceled)
 79. (canceled)
 80. (canceled)
 81. (canceled)
 82. Themethod of claim 28, wherein the slaved service provides services thatare determined by the first service.
 83. The system of claim 53, whereinthe slaved service provides services that are determined by the firstservice.
 84. The method of claim 63, wherein the slaved service providesservices that are determined by the first service.